The USPTO Now Requires a Login to Access Its Database. Here’s What You Need to Know

The USPTO Now Requires a Login to Access Its Database. Here’s What You Need to Know.

If you’ve ever searched the USPTO database to check if a name was taken, or looked up the status of a trademark application, you could do all of that without logging in. No account needed. Just Google and go.

That’s changing.

As of June 18, 2026, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is rolling out new login requirements across its online tools. The biggest immediate change: the USPTO’s Open Data Portal, which houses trademark and patent datasets, prosecution histories, and public file records, now requires a USPTO.gov account to access.

And this is just the beginning. The USPTO has been steadily adding login requirements to more features, and the direction is clear. Anonymous access to federal trademark and patent data is going away.

Here’s what you need to know.

What Exactly Is Changing?

Starting June 18, 2026:

The Open Data Portal (ODP) requires a login. Previously, anyone could browse this database without an account. Now you need a USPTO.gov account. The ODP is the USPTO’s main hub for trademark and patent data, including application records, prosecution history, and bulk datasets.

The trademark search tool is moving toward requiring a login. For now, basic word searches are still available without an account. But advanced features like image search and detailed summary pages already require you to be logged in, and that list is likely to grow.

The Developer Hub has retired. As of May 29, 2026, the old Developer Hub shut down. All public data has been migrated to the ODP, and accessing APIs now requires a verified USPTO.gov account with ID.me identity verification.

Why Is the USPTO Doing This?

Basically, too many bots were hammering the system and slowing everything down. The USPTO’s fix? Require everyone, humans included, to log in. It’s a security move, an infrastructure move, and honestly, a long time coming.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you’re a business owner who has filed, or is thinking about filing, a trademark, here’s the practical impact:

1. You’ll need to create an account. If you ever want to search the trademark database, check the status of your application, or look up public records, you’ll want a myUSPTO account. Creating one takes just a few minutes.
2. Your day-to-day won’t change much (yet). If you’re working with a trademark attorney like our team at Indie Law, we’ve already got the accounts and access we need. This change mostly affects people who prefer to research or check on things independently.
3. The trend is moving toward more authentication. We expect the USPTO to continue adding login requirements to more tools over time. Setting up your account now means you won’t be caught off guard later.

How to Create Your myUSPTO Account

It only takes a few minutes:

1. Go to my.uspto.gov
2. Click “Create a USPTO.gov account”
3. Enter your email address and create a password
4. Verify your email by clicking the link they send you
5. Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA). You can use an authenticator app, email verification, or phone call.

That’s it. Once you’re set up, you can log in to search trademarks, check application statuses, and access the full range of USPTO online tools.

Pro tip: If you ever need to file documents directly with the USPTO rather than through your attorney, you’ll also want to verify your identity through ID.me. It requires a government-issued photo ID and takes around 15 to 30 minutes. But you likely won’t need this step unless you’re filing on your own.

What This Means If You’re an Indie Law Client

If you’re one of our clients, don’t worry. Our team already has the accounts and access we need to manage your trademark filings, monitor your applications, and handle everything on the USPTO side.

That said, we always encourage our clients to create their own myUSPTO account. It lets you independently check on the status of your trademark application whenever you want, without having to email us and wait for a response.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just a USPTO thing. The days of fully anonymous access to government databases are winding down across the board. The USPTO is just one of many agencies moving in this direction.

For trademark owners, the practical takeaway is simple: create your myUSPTO account now, before you need it. It takes five minutes, it’s no cost to you, and it ensures you’ll always have access to the tools and records that matter for your brand.